►
Description
Boston stands out as one of the most welcoming places for immigrants in America. Mayor Walsh wants to keep it that way. On this episode of Commissioners Corner, Host, Lois Leonard and Alejandra St. Guillen, Director of Immigrant Advancement, discuss how the City of Boston serves its immigrant communities.
A
Hi
and
welcome
to
commissioner's
corner
I'm,
your
host
Lois
Leonard,
and
thanks
for
joining
us
mayor
Walsh
has
been
quoted
to
say
that
Boston
is
a
city
that
welcomes
all
residents
and
works
to
lift
up
every
family,
an
individual
in
our
city,
and
that
includes
our
immigrant
communities
today,
more
than
ever
that
job
is
not
a
simple
one.
To
help
us
understand
how
the
work
gets
done.
The
director
of
the
office
for
immigrant
advancement,
Alejandra,
st.
Guillen,
has
been
kind
enough
to
join
us
today.
Welcome
thank.
A
B
A
B
The
immigrant
information
corners
are
kind
of
like
a
one-stop-shop
for
resources
for
immigrants
they're
in
every
single
Boston,
Public
Library.
We
have
resources
for
citizenship.
We
do
this
in
collaboration
with
the
citizenship,
the
USCIS,
which
is
the
US
Citizenship
and
Immigration
Services.
So
they
provide
all
the
materials
on
citizenship.
There
is
programming
in
soil
classes,
citizenship
classes.
We
have
them
at
every
single
of
our
24
branches
across.
B
You
know
some
branches
are
smaller
than
others,
so
some
corners
are
smaller
than
others,
but
the
library
has
been
an
amazing
partner
and
one
of
the
things
that
we
learned
a
few
years
ago,
we
did
a
pretty
informal
survey
but
just
wanted
to
find
out.
You
know,
sort
of
their
average
immigrant
resident
how
you
know
what
did
they
know
about
city
government?
Were
they
did
they
feel
like
they
could
access
city
services
and
do
they
know
about
our
office?
B
They
know
you
know
about
the
mayor's
office
and
you
know
like
most
people
you're
just
living
your
day
and
you
go
to
school.
You
go
to
work
and
you're,
not
thinking
about
the
different.
You
know
different
offices,
so
there
was
a
lot
of
education
that
to
be
done
about
our
office
that
we
existed,
but
I
will
say
that
the
one
place
that
everyone
every
single
person
mentioned
is
a
place
where
they
go
where
they
feel
welcome
where
they
you
know
like
to
spend
time
access
is
free
access
was
their
local
library.
B
So
it
was
just
a
perfect
opportunity
for
us
to
really
come
together
and
provide
provide
these
one-stop
shops
for
every
you
know,
referrals.
We
also
not
local
nonprofits,
put
their
information
there
as
well,
and
we
expanded
it
to
three
of
our
Boston
centers
for
youth
and
families
and
to
YMCAs
as
well
great.
B
Absolutely
so,
over
the
past
couple
of
years,
over
the
past
18
months
in
particular,
it's
been
crucial
that
we
are
able
to
extend
information
to
our
residence,
because
it's
really
unclear
a
lot
of
what
is
rhetoric?
What
is
actual
law?
What
is
actually
changing?
It's
hard
for
us
to
keep
up
with
it,
much
less
people
who
aren't
spending
their
full
day.
Analyzing
this
information
so
and
one
in
and
in
also
to
let
residents
know
that
they
had
rights
right,
even
those
who
are
undocumented.
B
They
have
rights
when
they
encounter
in
immigration
official,
and
so
it's
important
that
they
understand
those
rights,
and
so
in
collaboration
with
our
nonprofit
partners,
have
done
these
immigration
101
and
know
your
rights
workshops
and
since
since
2016
have
been
delivered
over
60
of
these
to
more
than
a
thousand
residents,
and
we
have
seen
that
it's
been
it's
another
way
for
them
to
know.
As
your
city
government,
we
are
here
for
you,
we
we
search.
A
B
A
B
B
The
time
and
but
also
brings
you
know,
bring
people
together
learn
about
each
other's
cultures.
It
each
session
starts
in
the
Greenway
with
information
with
a
talk.
We
had
our
first
one
in
June,
where
Tonya
the
videos
who
is
the
new
director
of
the
office
for
women's
advancement
and
it's
a
immigrant
from
Mexico,
told
her.
It
was
telling
her
story
and
then
walked
from
the
Greenway
to
the
public
market.
That's
our,
of
course.
B
A
To
come,
yeah!
Well,
let's,
let's
turn
to
the
national
scene,
sure
there's
a
lot
to
talk
about
there.
Boston
has
not
always
been
seeing
eye-to-eye
with
the
federal
administration
in
Washington
on
issues
relating
to
immigrants
and
immigration
and
I'd
like
to
stress
that
we
we
do
talk
about
immigrants
and
their
advancement
right
as
opposed
to
immigration
policy.
Of
course,.
B
B
That's
a
good,
that's
a
great
distinction,
because
when
you
talk
about
the
policy
of
immigration,
that
is
a
federal
policy,
and
that
is
something
that
is
whether
through
executive
order
or
Congress
is
something
that's
that's
brought
down
by
the
federal
government
in
our
cities
across
the
country.
What
we
do
is
we
are
living
out
the
effects
of
those
policies,
both
good
and
bad,
and
so
we,
we
have
been
very
clear
as
mayor
Walsh
has
been
very
clear.
B
Our
administration
has
been
very
clear
that
we
are
not
in
agreement
on
the
policy
of
the
current
policies,
whether
it
be
Muslim
ban
or
separating
families
at
the
border
or
increased
ice
operations.
These
are
all
things
that
we
see
maker
makes
our
city
less
safe,
and
so
for
us,
it's
important
that
we
reiterate
that
these
are
the
policies
we
have
at
a
city
level.
We
obviously
can't
change
immigration,
we
don't
have
any
say
in
that,
but
but
we
have
a
trust
act.
B
So
you
know
that
our
Boston
Police
are
here
to
protect
you
and
to
serve
you
and
not
to
report
you
to
ice
or
to
serve
as
immigration
officials,
and
that's
thing
that
that
is
very
intentional
in
something
that
the
police
commissioner's
very
has
been
very
clear
about
from
the
beginning
and
very
vocal
about
that.
Boston
Police
are
not
ice,
and
so
local
policies,
like
a
trust
act,
is
something
that
allows
people
to
feel
more
safe
in
their
communities,
because
we
know,
and
we'll
continue
to
speak
out
against
the
federal
government
policies.
B
We've
done
it
in
amicus
briefs,
we've
done
it
in
op
eds.
The
mayor
received
national
attention
for
four
statements.
He
made
about
sanctuary
at
City
Hall.
You
know
so
that
he
you
one
thing
that
we've
seen
it's
not
uncommon
in
this
sphere
for
mayor's
to
really
serve
as
a
strong
role,
because
this
is
where
these
are
their
residents.
These
are
the
people
who
make
their
cities
strong
and
it's,
and
it
makes
all
the
sense
in
the
world
to
to
let
them
know
that
you
know,
regardless
of
what's
happening
at
the
federal
level.
A
B
Now
so
sanctuary
is
its
sanctuary
city.
It's
a
it's
been
very
difficult
because
it's
a
little
bit
complicated,
so
I
think
there's
as
always.
All
of
this
is
very
complicated.
I
think
there's
this
idea
that
sanctuary
cities
are
places
where
people
go
where
immigrants
can
go
if
they
commit
a
crime
and
want
to
get
it
wait
with
it,
which
is
just
really
not
what
really
not
what
it
is,
and
you
know
and
Boston
there
and
there's
no
real
actual
definition
of
sanctuary
cities.
B
So
Somerville
has
a
ordinance
or
I,
don't
know
something
through
the
City
Council
that
says
their
sanctuary.
City
Boston
has
a
trust
Act,
so
we
don't
have
something
that
says,
we're
sanctuary
city.
We
have
used
that
term
because
it's
we
feel
like
it's.
It's
an
easier
term
for
people
to
understand
and
for
particularly
for
the
immigrant
community
say:
okay,
I
can
I
can
be
safe
according
to
attorney
general
sessions.
B
The
definition
of
a
sanctuary
city
is
a
city
that
doesn't
allow
information
sharing
between
ice
and
their
local
officials,
and
that
is
not
none
of
these
cities.
Actually,
none
of
these
cities
fall
into
that
to
fall
into
that
category,
so
for
his
very
own
definition,
we're
not
a
sanctuary
city
and
then
also
in
the
course.
As
I
mentioned,
the
courts
have
been
a
powerful
tool
to
help
mitigate
some
of
this.
B
B
It's
very
it's
very
important
because
of
course,
you
know
our
dollars
are
short
and
so
and
cities
depends
very
much
on
federal
dollars
to
run
to
run
their
city.
So
we've
been
very
encouraged
by
the
fact
that
the
courts
have
frequently
cited
with
cities
and
with
counties
that
have
and
states
who
have
stood
up
to
these
policies.
Let's
talk
about.
A
B
Due
to
a
court
injunction
said
the
doctor,
people
can
still
renew
their
daca
so
and
we're
waiting
on
a
case
to
see
if
people
are
who
are
eligible
but
haven't,
had
an
applied
yet
are
able
to
apply
for
the
first
time.
But
right
now
it
just
renewals,
and
there
are
certain
and
people
who
have
daca
can
renew
and
they
should.
They
should
continue
to
renew.
B
B
B
Unfortunately,
you
know
gets
caught
up
in
all
the
other,
the
other
political
items,
and
so,
but
one
thing
that
you
know
we've
been,
we
work
very
closely
with
our
dreamers
here
and
in
the
city
they've
been
they
have
led
this
movement
and
not
only
that
they
have
refused
to
let
anything
that
would
benefit
them,
hurt
other
immigrants,
so
they
said
we're
not
going
to
be
used,
as
you
know
pawn
in
this
in
this
scheme.
So
you
know
we
want
that.
We
obviously
want
this
to
be
permanent.
B
A
B
B
Except
for
Spanish,
we
always
have
a
Spanish
attorney
on
on-site,
so
that's
and
we
have
so
many
people
speak
Spanish
in
the
office.
So,
if
need
be
so
if
it's
Spanish
translation
no
need
to
call,
but
if
it's
anything
anything
else,
then
people
can
call
but
other
than
that
needs
12
to
2
the
first
and
third
Wednesday
of
each
month.
We
just
had
one
this
past
Wednesday
so
about
how
many
people
will
attend
it's
interesting.
B
Of
years
we've
had
as
high
as
50
in
one
in
one
session,
and
these
are
volunteer
attorneys,
who
come
on
their
lunch
hour
to
give
a
free
consultation
up
to
20
minutes.
We
don't
they
don't
they're,
not
going
to
fill
out
forms
for
you
or
actually
you
know
it's
not
they're,
not
taking
your
case.
They
could
you
know
if
that's
something
that
they,
you
know
just
decide
that
you
need.
They
also
offer
referrals
oftentimes.
It
is
a
something
that
can
be
solved
in
20
minutes,
because
people
can
say
well.
B
I
was
told
by
this
attorney
or
I
told
by
this
notary
public
that
if
I
paid
them
this
much
money,
they
could
help
me
with
the
status
and
that
attorney
can
say
no
actually
that
that's
fraudulent,
because
that's
it
that's
a
big
issue
in
the
immigrant
community
as
well
as
people
get
in
taking
that
taken
advantage
of.
So
this
is
really
at
the
very
least
to
save
people.
So
they
know
that
they're
coming
to
an
attorney
that
is
qualified.
B
That
has
been
vetted,
and
so
you
know-
and
they
have
been
amazing
on
the
days
that
we've
had
50
people
and
they've
they've
stayed
up
to
three
hours
to
be
able
to
see
every
one.
On
that
day
we
have
seen
you
know
in
the
summer
months
it
kind
of
goes
down
a
little
bit
and
you
know
sort
of
has
balanced
balanced
off
a
bit,
and
there
are
many
organizations
that
provide
legal
clinics.
One
of
our
closest
allies
that
Irish
international
immigration
center
also
does
these
clinics
across
across
the
city.
B
No,
no
there's,
no,
you
don't
need
to
show
ID,
you
don't
need
to
show
documentation
when
you
come
into
City
Hall.
You
do
go
through
security,
but
you
don't
you
don't
show
identification.
City
Hall
is
open
to
everybody
and
you
don't
have
to
live
in
the
city
of
Boston
either.
So
anyone
who
lives
works
visits
the
city
can
come
and
you
know
the
only
information
we
take.
Is
you
know,
country
of
origin?
B
A
B
B
Yes,
so
that
is
a
public-private
partnership.
It's
currently
funded
through
private
dollars
through
foundations
and
corporations
who
have
we've
worked
in
as
the
city.
We've
helped
organize
them
to
come
together
and
create
a
fund
for
about
10
organizations
community-based,
as
well
as
League
as
legal
service
providers
for
people
in
deportation
proceedings,
because
immigration
law
is
actually
civil
law,
and
so
there's
no
guarantee.
B
B
Yep
helping
towards
the
yes,
so
it's
a
million
dollars
going
as
I
mentioned
to
ten
organizations,
not
just
in
Boston
and
in
the
in
the
Greater
Boston
area
and
and
it's
divided
between
a
good
portion
of
it,
goes
to
the
legal
service
provider
so
that
they
can
build
capacity.
So
for
most
of
them,
that
means
they've
been
able
to
use
the
funds
to
hire
an
attorney
and
then
our
community-based
organizations
who
are
doing
the
outreach
and
the
education.
B
A
B
That
it's
a
it's
a
fabulous
day.
We
it's
in
a
day
where
we
partner
with
an
organization,
fabulous
organization
called
project
citizenship
as
well
as
Goodwin
law,
firm
and
people
come,
and
they
get
help
with
their
naturalization
paperwork
from
people
who
have
been
trained,
and
then
it
all
gets
vetted
through
the
attorneys
so
and
it's
completely
free
and
also
we
have
information
there
on
fee
waivers.
So
what
a
lot
of
people
don't
know
is
that
if
you
are
eligible
for
any
kind
of
means-tested
benefits,
your
feet
can
be
waived.
B
B
That's
be
a
popular
day,
it's
a
great
day,
so
this
is
where,
in
our
50
year
this
year
is
on
September
30th
at
the
Reggie
Lewis
last
year
we
served
nearly
400
people
and
I
think
about
350
applications
were
filled
and
mailed
and
that
day
yeah
the
others
project
citizenship.
This
is
what
they
do
year
round,
so
they're
able
to
follow
up
and
they
actually
stay
in
contact
with
the
people
throughout
there
throughout.
A
B
B
A
B
B
So
the
two
immigrants
with
love
was
a
social
media
campaign
by
defined
American,
and
we
actually,
it
was
an
intern
in
our
office
who
just
loved
the
campaign.
It
was
a
postcard
campaign.
People
write,
you
know,
post
cards
as
to
why
they
love
immigrants
and
you
know
and
shoot
a
picture.
The
mayor
has
one
you
know
people
across
the
country
and
she
said
wow.
This
would
be
a
great
I
love
this.
Let's
do
something
locally
in
something:
that's
permanent.
B
You
know
that's
permanent,
and
so
she
worked
with
Heidi
schork,
who
is
the
director
of
the
mayor's
mural
crew
and
they
thought
murals
are
perfect
way
to
celebrate
our
immigrant
Heritage
I
burn,
beautiful
it
big,
they're,
big
and
when
what
they
decided
was.
Let's,
let's
feature
someone
who
was
an
immigrant
many
decades
ago
when
someone
who's
new
immigrant,
and
so
we
have
one
in
Roslindale
one
in
East
Boston
and
we
have
a
third
one
in
East
Boston
as
well,
which
which
is
an
ode
to
our
grandmother's,
Nona's
and
I.
B
Well,
as
just
that,
everyone
knows
the
strong
role
that
that
grandmother's
play
in
both
family
and
community,
and
so
this
was
a
great
opportunity
to
demonstrate
that.
But
it's
a
it's
a
it's
a
beautiful,
it's
just
a
beautiful
project,
I
love
that
it
was
an
intern
that
thought
of
it
and
that
we
were
a
you
know,
because
we
have
the
you
know:
mayor's
mural
crew,
not
all
cities
have
a
mayor's
mural,
you
know,
so
we
have
a
mayor's
miracle.
We
were
able
to
to
make
it
a
reality
here
in
Boston.
That's.
B
B
Thirteenth
year,
thirteenth
year
yep,
so
it's
a
it's
one.
It's
a
way
to
raise
funds
that
we're
then
able
to
distribute
to
community-based
nonprofits
across
the
city,
as
well
as
an
amazing
program
called
English
for
new
Bostonians
and
it's
it's
in
business
leaders,
community
leaders.
They
come
together
and
they
celebrate
what
makes
Boston
such
an
amazing
city.
And
that
is
our
diversity
and.
B
A
B
You
know
I
like
I
mentioned
earlier.
One
thing
that
has
been
very
heartening
throughout
these
past
18
months
and
also
in
light
of
what's
been
happening
at
the
border,
is
that
more
often
than
not
people
just
want
to
know
how
they
can
help
and
we
are
a
pro-immigrant
city
and
we
have
seen
people
stand
up
for
you
know
our
allies
stand
up
for
immigrant
residents.
B
I
would
say
you
know,
there's
a
a
new
app
or
it's
a
I
think
it's
a
computer
program
where
people
can
go
and
put
information
and
you
can
get
matched
with
an
organization.
That's
looking
for
someone
to
that.
Has
the
skills
because
I
think,
even
though
it's
amazing
to
have
so
many
people
volunteer
like
right
after
the
election
and
then
what's
happening
at
the
border.
Sometimes
these
organizations
get
a
little
bit
overwhelmed.
B
So
this
is
an
opportunity
to
really
streamline
and
also
people
bring
different
skills
to
the
table,
so
maybe
you're
an
attorney
and
you
can
be
trained
on
how
to
fill
out
naturalization
papers.
Maybe
you
speak
another
language
and
you're
willing
to
serve
as
an
interpreter
for
our
immigration
clinics,
or
you
know
whatever
it
is
that
everyone
has
something
to
to
get
to
give
and
to
bring
to
the
table
so
I
would
say
you
know
people
want
to
actually
do
something.
That's
a
great
opportunity.
B
A
You
so
much
and
thank
you
for
joining
us.
We
all
must
work
together
to
meet
the
needs
of
our
growing
and
ever-changing
foreign-born
community.
You
can
help
as
an
individual
or
a
group.
There
are
internship
opportunities.
You
can
volunteer
for
a
one-day
event
like
citizenship
day
or
you
can
sponsor
a
fundraiser
like
the
we
are
Boston
gala
learn
more
at
Boston
gov,
slash
immigrant.
There
are
ways
we
all
can
and
should
get
involved
thanks
for
watching
I'm,
Louis,
Leonard
and
we'll
see
you
next
time
on
commissioners
corner.